• Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • LAD Originals

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Simone Biles Speaks Out For First Time After Olympics Withdrawal

Jess Hardiman

Published 
| Last updated 

Simone Biles Speaks Out For First Time After Olympics Withdrawal

American gymnast Simone Biles has spoken out for the first time after withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics, praising fans for their 'outpouring love and support'.

The 24-year-old retired from the team final in Tokyo earlier this week after her first piece of apparatus, having left the arena straight after her vault.

She returned in her team tracksuit and did not compete in the next rotation on the uneven bars.

Advert
Credit: PA
Credit: PA

It was later announced she would not be taking part in the rest of the team final, with USA Gymnastics citing a 'medical issue' as the reason.

Two days ago, she posted a heart on Twitter, and has since retweeted several supportive posts from fellow gymnasts.

Now Biles has shared a message of her own, writing: "The outpouring love and support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before."

Advert

Biles is a four-time Olympic gold medallist after her breakout debut in Rio, and has become one of the most recognisable faces at the games.

On the day before her appearance in the team final, she had shared an uncharacteristically personal message about the pressures she has faced on her journey to the top, as well as being the face of Team USA at these games.

She wrote: "It wasn't an easy day or my best but I got through it.

Advert

"I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times.

"I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn't affect me but damn sometimes it's hard hahaha!

"The Olympics is no joke! BUT I'm happy my family was able to be with me virtually.

"They mean the world to me!"

Advert
Credit: PA
Credit: PA

One of the messages that Biles had retweeted this week came from trainer and former gymnast Andrea Orris, writing that Biles had suffered sexual abuse 'throughout her entire childhood'.

Biles released a statement on Twitter back in 2018, saying she was one of the people who had been abused by former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar.

Nassar is currently serving 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges, and has additionally been sentenced to up to 175 years in Michigan state prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Advert

In Orris' post, she said: "We are talking about the same girl who was molested by her team doctor throughout her entire childhood and teenage years."

She added: "That girl has endured more trauma by the age of 24 than most people will ever go through in a lifetime."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Simone Biles, SPORT, olympics, News, olympic games, Tokyo Olympics

Jess Hardiman
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

People convinced there’s a ‘glitch in the matrix’ after spotting chickens frozen in time

12 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Benidorm icon Sticky Vicky has died aged 80

3 days ago